"FOR PROMOTING THE KNOWLEDGE, UTILIZATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE ASAHIFLEX, ASAHI PENTAX AND PENTAX CAMERA SYSTEMS OF ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC FORMATS"

The Asahi Optical Historical Club (AOHC), is an international group of Pentax enthusiasts, collectors and historians established in 1994, on occasion of 75th anniversary of Asahi Opt. Co.

AOHC studies historic and technical evolution of photography and particularly the Asahiflex, Asahi Pentax and Pentax systems of all formats, of which AOHC promotes utilization, knowledge and preservation. For this purpose AOHC welcomes contact and cooperation with other clubs and cultural groups.

AOHC is a non-profit organisation and has no political aims. AOHC manages Pentax Day in Italy, an annual general meeting open to the public, featuring a display of AOC historical equipment, a display of Pentax current products, lectures, picture exhibits, photo sessions, and more. The AOHC Statute (AOHC Rules) was approved at 1st Pentax Day in Milan, Italy, on June 9th, 1996.

AOHC was established in Italy, with co-operation of a few British friends, but it quickly diffused worldwide. AOHC members joined from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA.